The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-25
LUTHERANS IN COUNCIL.
THE UNITED SYNOD OF THE SOUTH
IN SESSION.

T. Horn to Succeed DR.. D. M. Gilbert
The Synods Programme-A Trip to
the Beach To-Day.
The United Synod of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in the South began its
Second BIENNIAL Convention at the Church
of the Ascension in this city yesterday.
The United Synod is the representative
body of the Lutheran Church, South 1t is
composed of delegates from all the synods
South of the Potomac and Ohio rivers, and
represents upward of 10000 Lutheran
communicates.
Most of the delegates arrived by yeSter-
day mornings trains and were met at the
depots by the members of the reception
committee and of the families in whose
homes they are entertained
THE sYNoDICAL SERMON.
The synodical sermon was preached by
Rev. F. w. E. Peschau, of Wilmington, N.
c., at II O'Clock. The Church of the
Ascension was crowded. The only
decoration was u bank of fruits and flowers
surmounted by a sheaf Of grain. in front of
the chancel.
Rev. Prof. Peschau Acting President of
the synod, Rev. A. L. Grouse, of Tennessee
and Rev. DR.. Bowman occupied seats with
in the chancel.
The sermon was from the text, "And of
the children of Issachar which were men
that had understanding Of the times, to
know what Israel ought to do" l Chroni-
Giles xii, 80.
Mans duty to his country and to his God
was the theme upon which the preacher
dwelt at length, in the opening of his dis
course.
THANKSGIVING SUBJECT.
The subject was appropriate to the day
The preacher pointed to England and her
mighty power, but, he said, If we put our
Scar to the earth as the Indian does when he
discovers danger or an enemy, we feel the
earth trepble and we hear the movements
of hundreds of thousands of men, like the
swinging of mighty sedges striking
for liberty. lie referred to France,
on the eve of a revolution.
Nihilism in Russia, he said, is like a many
sided, sharp file in the hands of mighty
giant undoing and removing the strength
from the Russian throne. Turning to our own
land, he referred to it as a land of peace
and plenty While it is under the curse of
polygamy and it has had the first Fremont
tions of an outbreak of anarchy, there is
grand moral sentiment against polygamy
and we have lived to see the day upon
which the Anarchists paid the fullest pen
atty for their crimes.
UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES.
The preacher then took up the words of
his text: Men that had understanding of
the times" Having understanding of the
times implies a superior intelligence and
talent The children of Issachar were men
of intelligence, of wide awake spirit, using
eye and ear to learn ali they could
for their benefit and for the benefit
of the generations to follow them.
SO has the Lutheran church furnished
the world with many of its brightest
scholars. The children of Issachar had
great purpose in seeking an understanding
Il
them in order to know what Israel ought to
do; so the church is the mother of schools.
II believes in education and Christianity,
and that all knowledge and education should
be consecrated to the best interests of Gods
church.
INSTITUTIONS OF THE CHURCH.
In the institutions of the Lutheran church,
in her colleges and universities, are men of
the highest and most superior literary at
tainments and abilities. No such men as
Ingersoll Huxley or Darwin have ever
sprung from the bosom of the Lutheran
church.
The understanding of the lines referred to
in the text, the preacher said was made an
active principle in order to know what
Israel ought to do. knowledge is as the
means to the end 1t is said that noble
deed is greater than metaphysical truth.
Goethe said that man is not born to solve
the problem of the universe, but to find out
what he has to do and to restrain
himself within the limits of his compre-
hension. Only actions give life strength, and
only moderation gives 1T charms. TIE race
is not to the swift nor the battle to the
strong, SO knowledge in and of itself, if not
used, does not accomplish its end
DUTIES OF THE CHRISTIAN.
five as church. whether in congrega-
tional life or in our synodical relations
have the best name, the purest
doctrines and the highest member
ship of any church in existence,
and do not use our accomplishments, and
are not active in developing and maintain
ing her interests, internally and externally,
we come short of our duty and we fail to
come up to the high standard of the tribe of
Issachar. The preacher carried out the line
of thought suggested by the text and his
sermon was one of great depth. 1t dwelt
upon the strength and power of the church
and the duty of its members to themselves
and to God. 1t was listened to with the
closest attention.
THE MUSIC.
After the sermon the holy communion
was celebrated. The music was by quar-
tette choir, Mrs. Ida Wade, soprano; Mrs
w. E. Dupont, alto; Mr.. Otto Vogel, tenor,
and Mr.. f. T. Harden, bass, with Mr.
Charles Ratz, organist. Millard's TIE Deum
and banks Gloria Patri were sung The
offertory was the tenor solo, Calvary by
Mr.. Otto VogeL The music was finely rem
dered, and was a feature of the service.
THE OPENING SESSION.
The synod was organized at o'clock and
was opened in accordance with the Lutheran
form of worship. The sessions are held in
the Sunday school room, and the delegates
are arranged according to the synod which
they represent. On the right of the
centre aisle are the North Carolina
and Virginia synods. On the left
are Tennessee and South Carolina.
The Southwest Virginia synod is on the
south aisle, and on tne north aisle are the
Holston and Georgia and Mississippi synods
The hymn "Glorious Things of Thee are
Spoken" was sung, and was followed by the
opening prayer by the President. The
Apostles creed and the Lords prayer were
recited and the synod was declared open.
THE DELEGATES.
Rev. A. l.. Grouse, of Tennessee, Secre-
tary of the synod called the roll of dele
gates and the following responded;
VIRGINIA SYNOD.
Cleyicol.-Rev. S. L. Smith, Rev. j. A.
Snyder, Rev. V. r. Stickley, Rev. James
Willis.
Lay-Adam Dracont.